The former Reading, Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder, who moved to Craven Cottage in January 2011, said: “In recent years we have been down in, and around, the relegation zone. Last year I remember there were games we needed to win and we did that. We knew we had the fight and belief to do that.

"This year it just wasn’t there. And of all the days for it not to be there, on Saturday against Stoke when we needed to go and win, and we didn’t show that passion and that fight.

“There is one thing getting relegated with a lot of courage and giving 110 per cent and if you can hold your hands up and say: ‘I have given everything and we have got relegated and we couldn’t do any more’.

“But to go down in that manner that we did on Saturday - defenceless really - was very poor.”

Rene Meulensteen shipped out mavericks Dimitar Berbatov, Adel Taarabt and Bryan Ruiz in January before he was sacked. But Sidwell reckons further weeding out of the failed squad is now required with 46 brutal games awaiting in the relentless second tier.

“It is definitely not a league for individuals,” said Sidwell, who won the Championship with Reading in 2005/2006 with a record 106 points.

Jamie McDonald

Pain game: Fulham fans react as their side are relegated

“It needs to be a collective - you need a team spirit because it is relentless. You need to get on a run of games and churn out wins.

"It is going to be Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday - that is how it comes, thick and fast.

"A lot of players in that dressing room won’t be used to that.

“I was fortunate enough to play in the Championship for a few years and I know exactly what it takes to get out of the league. It is definitely going to be a tough ask. Obviously changes will be made.”

His eight-year-old son Harry is already part of the club’s strong youth system and Sidwell wants to stay.

But he told talkSPORT: “I told the football club at the end of last year that I wanted to sign a new contract and I wanted to stay at the club. I love the club - I have been here three-and-a-half years now.

“Pre-season we tried to sit down and talk but it wasn’t very good and even in January, I said: ‘I want to stay, I want to sign’. And the football club have brushed that away.

“So that maybe has shown the club’s cards on that front. We will have to wait and see. It is up to the football club. If they want to keep me, it is down to them.”